Lock for garbage can lids



March 14, 1961 H. MERENESS LOCK FOR GARBAGE CAN LIDS Filed Jan. 29, 1959 FIG-l lllllll'illlll'il INVENTOR. LOWELL H.MEREN ESS BY FIG-2 United States Patent 2,974,990 LOCK FOR GARBAGE CAN LIDS Lowell H. Mereness, Boise, Idaho, assignor to M & M

Products Company, Incorporated, Boise, Idaho, a corporation of Idaho Filed Jan. 29, 1959, Ser. No. 790,005 3 Claims. (Cl. 292-488) My present invention relates to locks for garbage can lids.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide means for releasably securing the garbage can cover against accidental displacement from the can.

Another object of the invention lies in the provision of an improved latch designed to hold a garbage can cover on the top of the can until an operator releases the same and removes the cover. This device will hold a cover on the can in the event the can is tipped over by an animal, wind, or other cause.

A further object of the invention lies in the provision of a garbage can cover lock which is so designed that an operator may remove or replace the cover with one hand in the event the other hand is occupied with carrying material for deposit therein.

These and other specific objects and advantages will become apparent during the course of the following specification when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a cover with which my invention is associated and applied to the top of a garbage can having a portion broken away for convenience of illustration; and

Figure 2 is a vertical radial fragmentary cross section taken through a fragment of a garbage can cover and having one latch associated therewith.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings wherein like reference numerals are employed to designate similar parts throughout the several figures, the numeral indicates a garbage can of conventional construction which is provided with an outwardly rolled upper rim 12. A removable cover 14 is supplied for closing the open upper end of the can 10 and is provided with a handle 16. About its peripheral edge the cover 14 has a depending circumferential flange 18 terminating in an outwardly rolled circumferentially continuous edge 20.

My new and improved cover locking device consists of a pair of generally U-shaped latches 22-22 which are preferably disposed diametrically opposed to each other with respect to the cover 14. Each of the latches has spaced divergent inner and outer elongated leaves 24 and 26 which are united at their lower ends by a radius bend 28 and define a cleft therebetween. It will be appreciated that the leaves 24 and 26 may be of any practical length, but for the sake of convenience I have formed the inner leaf 24 somewhat shorter in length than the outer leaf 26 so that when the flange 18 of the cover 14 is disposed in the cleft, the outer leaf 26 may extend above the upper surface of the cover 14 while the inner leaf 24 terminates spaced downwardly from the top of the cover.

As is customary, the cover 14 is telescopically engaged over the upper edge portion of the can 10 and the divergence of the leaves 24 and 26 though not critical must be suflicient so that when the leaf 26 engages the upper peripheral edge where the top 15 and flange 18 meet, the inner leaf 24 will be disposed under the outwardly rolled upper rim 12 of the can 10. Thus any attempt to remove the cover 14 from the can is precluded by the inner leaf 24 striking the rolled edge 12.

Latch tensioning means 30 are provided to bias the latches 22 to the cover locking position as indicated by full line in Figure 2 of the drawing. Manual pressure applied to the outer leaf 26 radially of the cover 14 as indicated by the arrow P on Figure 1 will pivot the latch 22 from the fuill line position of Figure 2 to the dotted line position thereof over the fulcrum effected by the contact of the inner leaf 24 with the flange 18 or conversely from the dotted line position of the leftward representation of Figure 1 to the full line position thereof.

The latch tensioning means 30 is a coiled tension spring which has loops '32 at the ends thereof which interlock through integral eyes 34 formed in the outer leaf 26 of each latch 22. In the embodiment shown, the spring extends diametrically over the top of the cover 14 and thus secures the latches against removal from the cover 14, but it will be appreciated that other tensioning and securing means may be employed to urge the latches to the locking position shown in the full line representation of Figure 2.

Having thus described my invention, I desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States the following:

1. The combination with a garbage can of the type having an outwardly rolled upper rim and a removable cover having a depending circumferential flange telescopically engaging over the upper edge portion of said can, a cover lock comprising a pair of diametrically opposed generally U-shaped latches each having spaced divergent elongated leaves defining a cleft into which said flange extends said leaves extending upwardly with one leaf disposed inwardly and one outwardly of said flange; and resilient means secured in tension to the outer leaves of said latches, said inner leaves being biased to an inwardly divergent position disposed under said can rim, whereby said lock is yieldable to outward radial pressures to shift said inner leaves to juxtaposition with said flange to permit removal of said cover.

2. The combination with a garbage can of the type having an outwardly rolled upper rim and a removable cover having 21 depending circumferential flange telescopically engaging over the upper edge portion of said can; of a coverlock comprising a tension spring extending diametrically of said cover and secured at one end relative thereto; a generally U-shaped latch having spaced divergent leaves integrally united and defining a cleft into which said flange extends, whereby one leaf is disposed inwardly and one outwardly of said flange; the inner said leaf impinging against said flange and constituting a fulcrum about which said latch may pivot; said spring having its opposed end secured to the outer leaf of said latch and biasing its inner leaf into an inwardly divergent position for disposition under said can rim, whereby outward radial movement of the outer leaf of said latch flexes said spring and pivots its inner leaf to juxtaposition with respect to said flange to permit removal of said cover; and means diametrically opposed to said latch for cooperatively securing said cover against accidental displacement.

3. The invention of claim 2 wherein the last-named means is a second U-shape'd latch disposed relative to 4 the cover in like manner to the first-named U-shaped latch and to the outer leaf of which the first-named end of said spring is attached.

References Cited in the file of this patent FOREIGN PATENTS 59,407 Switzerland Apr. '17, 1912 2,974,990} Patented Mar. 14, 1961 r 

